Frankfort, Kentucky, August 31, 2025
News Summary
An administrative mistake at the Kentucky Department of Education has led to 1,462 families receiving undeserved food assistance, raising concerns over potential repayment. The error, which involves EBT cards for the federal Summer EBT program, affects families in four school districts, with many already spending the issued benefits. KDE and CHFS are working together to correct the issue and support the affected families amid growing anxiety over repayment demands.
Frankfort, Kentucky – An administrative blunder at the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) led to nearly 1,500 families receiving food assistance that they were not eligible for, prompting concerns over repayment demands and financial strain. The error affected families in four school districts, with many receiving letters warning of potential referral to debt collectors if they did not return the incorrect benefits.
According to reports, approximately 1,462 families were notified regarding the incorrectly issued food assistance cards. Specifically, numerous families in Scott County received correspondence demanding repayment for electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards valued at $120 per child, irrespective of whether they had utilized the funds. The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) disclosed that around 700 of the erroneously issued cards were activated, resulting in a total of $76,267.42 in benefits spent by unsuspecting families…